Sometimes, all you need is a night in which you watch your favorite romance movies. It can be one you’ve seen a hundred times, but it’s still special all the same. A period piece, a romantic comedy, or even a movie that focuses on a break-up that disguises itself as a romance could be what you’re in the mood for.
Romance movies are so special because they can take on so many different identities that you genuinely have hundreds to choose from. The ones you’ve seen more than ten times and could easily recite the lines to do hold a higher ranking than most and deserve some recognition. Here’s a list of ten of the most highly rewatchable romance movies.
Updated on August 27th, 2023 by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
15 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Under Gil Junger’s careful and introspective direction, this modern take on a classic Shakespeare play, The Taming of the Shrew, took the ‘90s by storm and ended the decade with a classic that went on to become one of the most rewatchable romance movies ever made. Set in 90s Seattle, 10 Things I Hate About You follows Cameron, a new guy in school trying to win the affection of Bianca, the most popular girl.
Turns out Bianca cannot date unless her rebellious and headstrong older sister Kat also has a boyfriend. So Cameron asks bad boy Patrick to change her mind and take her to the school dance. Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger share irresistible chemistry as they navigate first love and fight the urge to drop everything and embrace. The youthful humor, classic 90s fashion, and a killer soundtrack, all elevate the film.
14 When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
Trying to answer the universal question of whether a man and a woman can ever just be friends, When Harry Met Sally… is Rob Reiner’s darling film from the 80s. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan debate the question subtly and playfully across 12 years in this legendary romance.
From their first chance meeting to the Ulysses desk scene, we witness Harry and Sally’s friendship, attraction, romance, and the way their eyes dance between picking one of the three. They spar with the chemistry and understanding of an old married couple. Yet when faced with the idea of dating… The film also has an outstanding supporting cast, with Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher making cameos. Even after 30 years, revisiting the movie is as comforting and reassuring as ever,
13 Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Renée Zellweger shines so brightly in this iconic film adapted from Helen Fielding’s 1996 novel. Bridget Jones’s Diary follows Zellweger casually tracking her year by keeping a journey and hoping that by the end of it, she has a clear path of changing her life. Between smoking and unfortunate run-ins, she navigates the dating scene as well as her career.
But the arrival of two suitors brings a drastic improvement in her beliefs. Played by Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, these men bring perspective and charm to a single woman’s life. Sharp jokes and heartwarming moments make our protagonist’s story more immersive. Beyond the movie, Bridget is a character whose antics always lift your spirits and cheer you on.
12 La La Land (2016)
La La Land is a vibrant ode to chasing Hollywood dreams in 1950s Los Angeles. Emma Stone’s Mia is a coffee shop employee who desperately wants to become an actress, and Ryan Reynolds’ Sebastian is a pianist who wants to make it big as a professional. Crossing paths and falling in love was never the plan, but what could be more joyous than letting your heart win?
Their lush musical duets whisk us away into a simpler time when the passions of youth were greater than the sorrows of life. Although the ending is bittersweet, the movie is beautiful. It leaves hope that somewhere two dreamers might find each other again. Overall, the colorful aesthetic and nostalgia work as important factors in making La La Land a dreamy escape.
11 Before Sunrise (1995)
The movie that gave us something to add another item to our bucket list, Before Sunrise centers around Jesse, an American man, and Celine, a French woman, who meet on a train to Europe. Feeling an instant connection with the woman sitting across from her, Jesse cannot help but ask Celine to spend an evening with him, traversing 1990s Vienna before he returns to the US.
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy bring raw charm and quiet reflection to the story as two people on the wings of new love. As for the direction, Richard Linklater is known for his minimalist style, which lets both the character’s intellect and playful banter carry the entire weight of storytelling. Although fleeting, Jesse and Celine’s relationship teaches you to truly listen, understand, and appreciate one another.
10 The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride is a really special romance film that might make you feel nostalgic while watching it. If you grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, chances are, you watched this movie or have at least heard of it. If anything, you must have heard someone recite the iconic line, “Marriage… marriage… marriage.”
Or, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” The love story between Westley and The Princess Bride will take you on a full-fledged adventure filled with action, lighthearted humor, and the perfect amount of romance. It’s rewatchable not only for the quotes but also for the amount of heart it displays.
9 Notting Hill (1999)
Notting Hill is one of those movies you can watch time and time again and become so obsessed with that you know all the lines, and it’s still extremely special, just like the first time around. Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant are a fantastic duo and play off of each other wonderfully.
The plot takes us to London, and maybe you find yourself browsing through flights while watching, so you can meet your brooding bookseller and have a whirlwind romance. It’s such a wonderful watch because of how their relationship naturally comes to fruition and how they fall in love with each other, but it’s still a game of push and pull.
8 Someone Great (2019)
You might be surprised when you see this movie on the list full of great romance flicks, but honestly, if you need a good cry after going through a breakup with your beloved, pop this one in. Someone Great captures a relationship that was once so beautiful and sacred that when they broke up, it was devastating.
Jenna and Nate were good until they weren’t, and their breakup was so well done that by the time the movie is over, you’ll be feeling like you went through something of the same caliber. This movie pairs its sad scenes with some great comedic relief, strong friendships, and the act of finding yourself after a painful breakup.
7 Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Pride and Prejudice (2005) is quite possibly the best period romance movie to date. It’s certainly the better adaptation of Jane Austen’s work because of how well they translate the words to the screen through emotion and action.
Matthew Macfadyen was a wonderful choice for Mr. Darcy because of how much angst he portrayed, and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet is truly a knockout. Maybe this movie makes the top of your list because of the iconic hand flex scene, and if you know, you know. When Mr. Darcy takes Elizabeth’s hand to help her up in the carriage, and then once they lose contact, he flexes his hand. Do we even mention the rain-soaked proposal scene? Yes, we’re swooning.
6 Casablanca (1943)
In the wise words of Lorelai Gilmore, “Casablanca? You’ve never seen Casablanca? What is wrong with you?” Casablanca is one of those movies that stands the test of time within the romance genre.
It was filmed during World War II, so you can imagine tensions were high, with the plot revolving around a man who helps his ex-lover and her husband hide from Nazis. The black-and-white setting is smoky and intimate, and it’s such an easy watch simply because it’s Casablanca. You know exactly what you’re going to get, and yet it’s an absolute delight every time you press play.
5 Dirty Dancing (1987)
When you watched Dirty Dancing for the first time, did you wish you could have a steamy summer fling at a campground with a hunky instructor? You’re certainly not alone if the answer is yes. Dirty Dancing is one of those movies that makes you long for summer and wish that Patrick Swayze would teach you how to ballroom dance, even if he’s a bit grumpy.
One can’t deny the influence this movie has had on pop culture; if you hear the first few beats of “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” you immediately think of the iconic lift scene. Dirty Dancing is also so easy to watch because you can start to notice things you didn’t notice through your first few watches.
4 Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Crazy Rich Asians gets a lot of things right when it comes to a great romance movie because of how it truly takes you on a journey throughout the majority of the film. Rachel and Nick’s romance is very sweet until you realize how evil and intense Nick’s mother is and the extremes she goes to to break them up.
Crazy Rich Asians will make you laugh, cry, swoon, and wish you were part of this luxurious and rich family. The wedding scene alone will have you rewatching, but if you find love stories with different tax brackets and meddling mothers, you’ll find yourself adding this to your list of favorites.
3 Moonstruck (1987)
Sometimes a romance movie can be very complex and have many twists and turns, and sometimes it’s a movie about a very traditional Italian family that’s a bit messy when it comes to love. Moonstruck is everything you want and need in a movie like this; it’s comforting, it’s warm, and Cher and Nicolas Cage are a duo you won’t expect but will appreciate by the time it’s over.
The story of how their characters fall in love is unconventional since it involves infidelity, but you’ll forget all about Johnny as you watch the real love story unfold before you. Moonstruck is so rewatchable because of how familiar it is and how it won’t leave you feeling unsatisfied by the end of it.
2 Valentine’s Day (2010)
When a romance movie has more than one point of view, it can get chaotic. On Valentine’s Day, there are so many stories told throughout this movie that you might forget half of them by the time you dedicate yourself to two specific characters. However, it’s a really sweet and fun ride as it takes you through several different couples and how they celebrate the day of love.
Not all of them work out because they aren’t meant to, but almost everyone gets a happy ending. If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, maybe you’ll rewatch this movie just to see her because yes, she’s in it, and yes, she was dating Taylor Lautner at the time. Truly iconic.
1 27 Dresses (2008)
Always the bridesmaid, and never the bride. This staple in the romantic comedy genre could never be redone properly because of the amount of chemistry Katherine Heigl and James Mardsen had while filming.
It’s the classic story of a woman who is a complete people-pleaser and who’s deeply in love with her sister’s soon-to-be husband until a man named Kevin walks into the picture. You might find yourself rewatching this movie because of how fun the story is, plus the scene in which she tries on all the dresses she’s worn as a bridesmaid is extremely memorable.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
